The Portland daily press., 1887-02-25
FROM WASHINGTON.
A New and Important Steamship
Company Organized.
An Extra Session of the Senate Prob
able.
An Exciting Debate on the Vetoed
Dependent Pension Bill.
The Veto Sustained by a Larger Vote
Than Was Expected
About 40 Democrats Vote with the
Republicans.
Every Southern Democratic Member
Supports the President.
Especial to the Press

supports the PRESIDENT.
Especial to the Press.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a.
The galleries Of both the House and Senate
are generally well filed with visitors nova
days. The closing lscenes Of Congress,
when measures are crowding upon one an
other for consideration, and the attendance
In both Houses large, are generally more in
teresting than at any other time during the
session, and the attendance of spectators is
correspondingly large. This week also the
debates In the House over the fishery retalia-
tion bill, the Senate amendment to the post
Office appropriation bill, and the veto of the
dependent pension bill, have been unusual
objects OF attraction. 1t may perhaps be
considered somewhat remarkable, but it Is
the fact. that probably four-fifths of the oc-
capants Of the galleries at any given time
are strangers in the city. The local popula-
ton very rarely visit the Capitol. have
met many people in the city, whose homes
are here and have always lived here, who
tell me that they have not set foot in the
Capitol for years. On the other hand, the
first point that a stranger steers for after
leaving his hotel is the Capitol, and probably
the greater part Of his time is spent there,
either in the galleries Of the Senate or
House.
On Washington's birthday one gray haired
old man paid visit to the Capitol, who in
sixty years residence in Washington had
visited the Capitol but once previous to this
visit. There are, however. few old timers
who are as regular in their attendance in the
galleries as are the Senators and Represent
atiyes on the floors. They are mostly old
white haired men, whose days Of active life
are over, and who are now spending the
evening time of life IN peace and comfort.
Now and then one drops out, and his usual
place knows him ne more. but another soon
takes his place and he is soon forgotten.
The ladies are also quite frequent visitors
and the galleries set apart for their use are
generally well filed. There are, however,
no regular comers among them and the same
face is rarely seen twice.
The New Steamship C ompany.
had an interesting conversation day or
two ago with Mr.. T. O'Meara, the president
Of the Arrow Steamship Comp any Of New
York, which has recently purchased the
marine railway and shipyard at Alexandria
and propose to Immediately commence the
construction of a fleet of iron steamships, to
run between New York and Liverpool. II
what he claims for the vessels to be built is
justified by their performances, they are
likely to revolutionize the shipbuilding of
the world and will 60 far toward restoring
the ancient prestige of American shipping.
The vessels are to be built on new and
patented plan, and the first ones are to be for
passengers only. The work is to be begun
at once upon the Pocahontas, the first OF the
fleet, and she is to be ready for sea by the
first of November. A full description of her
would be impossible, but in general it may
be said that her length win be $40 feet, her
beam 40, and her extreme depth AZ feet. She
will carry 1000 passengers and about 150
tons Of freight, which is to be limited to ex-
press and mail matter. She iss expected to
cross the ocean in from four to five days, and
it is claimed can be built at from 25 to 30 per
cent. cheaper than vessel Of her size, built
In the usual way, could be constructed in
England. There is plenty Of money behind
the scheme, and if thera is anything in it, it
will certainly be discovered. The designs
have met the approval Of most all the prom
inent engineers and shipbuilders of the
country.
Talk of an Extra Session of the
Senate.
1t is practically certain that President
Cleveland has about decided to call an extra
session Of the Senate to meet Immediately
after the expiration Of the Forty-ninth Con-
gress. Several Democratic Senator's called
on him this morning. and advised that such
session is needed, and he said he was glad of
it, as 1t would relieve him from the necessity
of making several important nominations
the Secretary Of the Treasury and Interstate
Commercs Commissioners among others
during the rush Of the work in the closing
hours ef the session, and would also enable
him to appoint member of the present
Congress to q position on the Interstate
Commerce Commission should he so desire.
It Is therefore almost certain that such
session will be called
American Commerce.
The cause of giving national aid to Ameri-
can commerce by means Of liberal appre-
priations for ocean mail service is growing
stronger yearly. One year ago the House
rejected the Senate subsidy amendment by
vote of 17S to 80. Today a similar amend
ment was only defeated by vote of 157 to
100. Sixteen Republicans voted with the
Democrats and against their party in favor
of non-concurrence with the amendment.
Had they voted for the amendment, it would
have been agreed to by vote of 146 to 141.
The bill now goes back to the Senate, which
will insist upon its amendment and ask for
conference. Every endeavor possible viii be
made to secure the adoption of the amend
ment, but the chances are against it.
Debate on the Dependent Pension
Bill.
The debate in the House today on the
vetoed dependent pension bill was by far the
most important and interesting event of the
present session. The attendance was un-
usually large and an immense throng filed
the galleries. About 40 Democrats, includ-
ing Messrs. Randall and Holman, voted with
the Republicans to pass the bill over the
veto. but every Southern and about IS
Northern Democrats, mostly followers of
Mr.. Morrison, voted to sustain the veto. The
vote in favor Of the veto was rather larger
than was anticipated, as it was not expected
to be more than 90 or 100 votes, and the an
nouncement of the result was greeted with
applause on the Democratic side of the
House and Kisses on the Republican side.
Before the debate began, Mr.. Dingley pre-
sented the petitions Of Thatcher Post, G. A.
R., of Portland, Kimball Post Of Rumford,
and Custer Post of Lewiston, praying for
the passage of the bill over the veto.
The Negotiations with Great Britain.
In the Senate today Mr.. Hoar offered the
following resolution, which was laid over for
the present:
Resolved, That II is the judgment of the Senate
that under the present circumstances no negotia-
tion should be undertaken with Great Britain in
regard to existing difficulties with her province of
Canada which has for its object the reduction
change OF abolition OF any Of our existing duties
on imports.
Another Mystery.
PITTsBURG, Pa, Feb. PA wooden box,
addressed to James Osborne, arrived here
today from Cincinnati, by the Baltimore Il
found, the box, which had suspicious odor,
was opened, and was found to contain the
mutilsted remains Of man in an advanced
stage Of decomposition. The legs and arms
were severed from the trunk in order to